Life is Too Short Collection
Are you looking for a fabulous life boost today? The Life is Too Short series is just what you need. Written by Connie Sokol—mother of seven, author, speaker, and amazing matching sock finder—these humorous self-development columns give you just the right amount of fun and functional. Originally written for a major newspaper and magazines, you can now enjoy the entire collection in one book. Put your feet up and laugh as you relate to time-tested tips on being a woman, wife, and mother. You'll learn the cozy stuff of how to adjust expectations, have faith in your dreams, and lighten up in motherhood. And, you'll learn a few life skills such as easy spring cleaning, simplifying the holidays, and creating successful goals. It's the perfect gift for any woman! Short, funny, insightful, these quick power columns are ideal anytime, anywhere, to rejuvenate your mind and soul.
Excerpt:
Are We Having Fun Yet?
As much as I could complain (should I
use that word?) about my sweetheart’s creative ways of parenting, I wouldn’t
change them. Okay, maybe one or two things, nothing major. Sort of. But I’m
learning about the benefits that his male perspective can bring.
On my way out the door for my
Wednesday Night Out, I asked him to please keep the kids on a schedule,
preferably the one used in our home. When I arrived home a few hours later, I
was delighted to see the five-minute pick-up had been an apparent success.
“Wow,” I said, “the place looks great,
honey.”
Stone-faced, but with a twinkle in his
eye, he corrected, “We were cleaning up the galaxy.”
Aha, the secret. As the night
continued, I saw how this space theme got things done. When I asked if they had
brushed their teeth, my son flashed his pearly whites and leaned in knowingly.
“I had space bugs.”
When I commented on my other son’s
neat Lego bracelet, he looked disgusted, “It’s a Buzz Light-Year laser, Mom.” Amidst the italics, I stood corrected.
Harnessing their hyperspace energy, my husband accomplished what would have
taken me more time and probably more chop-chop, let’s-get-it-done mentality,
and they had fun.
Are we having fun yet? Can we say
today, last week, or last month that we have had fun with our parenting? One of
the “funnest” summers I can remember so far is when my then two children, about
three and one, had the Summer of Play. We literally played. Every day we went
for a walk, sometimes two, pointing out trees, rocks, bugs, all the essentials.
The kiddie pool was a staple, as was the after-swim smushy popsicles and warm
towels. The local dollar theater showed quality kids’ movies, and sometimes we
splurged on movie meals, just because. Laying on the grass or telling stories
at naptime, it was by far the most enjoyable and relaxed summer I have ever had
with my kids.
Parenting has definite perks. All the
things we said we would do when we got older are at our fingertips, but how
often do we play, chill, or stay up late? Valerie Bertinelli gave a great
response to a distraught woman with picky eaters not cleaning their plates and
whining for dessert. She replied, “Why does it have to be a rule to finish
everything on your plate? Do you? … Kids won’t starve if they don’t finish
their meals and they don’t need dessert every night. But every once in a while,
freak them out and give them that scoop of ice cream before dinner!” Excellent
advice for myself, I thought—“Girlfriend, you have got to lighten up.”
This is not throwing order to the
wind. Establishing rules and routines are, as researchers note, essential to a
child’s feeling of security. Knowing what is coming makes children feel more in
control and less likely to be irritable, impatient, and all the rest of those
i-words. It’s loosening the rigidness that makes the difference.
A few days ago, at summer high noon,
the kids collectively said they were not hungry, until someone saw the ice
cream. Suddenly, they had appetites. On a whim, I said, “Do you want dessert
first?” They were about to faint. “All right,” I said, “I officially declare
this Dessert First Day.” And with that, we enjoyed: we savored, we sloshed, and
we slurped that ice cream as it should be.
This was fun.
Amazon
Review from I Love to Read & Review Books:For some laughter therapy read this book! I LOVED the funny stories in each chapter followed by a LIFE TIP to help you put into practice the things you just learned...and as an added bonus...there is a BOOK PICK to further your enlightenment on the subject.
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